Neil Young believes Jon McCarthy is doing a 'fantastic job' as Chester FC manager.
Chester suffered their first defeat in 10 Vanarama National League games when they lost 5-2 at home to Lincoln City on Saturday.
The loss saw the Blues slip eight points behind the play-off places going into their enforced two-week lay off.
But Young reckons the fact his former club have put themselves in the mix at this stage of the season is testament to the work being done by McCarthy.
"Jon is doing a fantastic job," said treble title-winning boss Young, who was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame prior to the entertaining Lincoln clash.
"It comes back to expectations again and what is expected and what is really possible.
"What Chester are doing at the moment, I wouldn't say they are over-achieving, because that's probably wrong, but I think they are doing over and above what people expect.
"Having been involved in the league I know how difficult it is and how well off financially some of the other clubs are.
"To beat Torquay, Dover and Dagenham, to go on such a long, unbeaten run, to keep all those clean sheets, to have a positive goal difference, and to be not too far away from the play-offs, shows how well the season is going.
"It looks like they've got a good bit of momentum going - and we mustn't forget that started when Jon took over at the back end of last season."
Young was given a standing ovation by the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium faithful when he was presented on to the pitch on Saturday.
It was his first time time back at the club since leaving the Blues in January 2014.
Since then Young has managed Stockport County and Altrincham.
But after quitting Altrincham in August, he has no interest in going back to the dugout.
He has not, however, ruled out a return to football in another capacity.
"Football management I definitely won't be doing at this moment in time," said Young, who works full-time for Merseyrail.
"It's very difficult. The time I had at Chester will be very hard to replicate and the industry is also changing.
"Particularly in the Conference North, where clubs are now having a real go financially, the expectation for part-time is very difficult.
"Merseyrail have been very supportive toward me in all the time I've been involved in football so, to go back into football management full tilt, I just think it would be too much now from a part-time perspective.
"I wouldn't rule out a move back into football - but it would have to be in a different capacity. Maybe at board level.
"I think I've got a lot to offer. I've been heavily involved in contracts and the administration side of it with all the clubs I've been at, dealing with various sides of the business.
"So that's maybe something I'd consider in the future, but football management, at this moment of time, I would see as a no."
